Dieynaba Ndiaye’s appeal judgment, delivered this Monday, December 9, 2024, marks a major turning point in this emblematic case. After several weeks of incarceration, the young woman obtained provisional release, as announced by the Senegal Feminist Collective on social networks. This decision arouses reactions of relief and hope for more equitable justice.
A release under citizen pressure
Since his arrest, Dieynaba Ndiaye has been at the heart of a national mobilization. A victim of domestic violence according to her testimonies, she was sentenced at first instance to three months in prison for “illicit collection of personal data”, on the complaint of her ex-husband Alioune Badara Mbacké. This decision shocked public opinion, with feminist organizations and many citizens denouncing a double punishment inflicted on a victim of violence.
Background of the case
Married in February 2024 to Alioune Badara Mbacké, chief doctor of the Matam health district, Dieynaba Ndiaye quickly reported physical and psychological attacks. In March, an argument broke out after she discovered compromising messages on her husband’s phone, leading to serious injuries which resulted in her being temporarily incapacitated for 10 days.
Paradoxically, while she files a complaint for domestic violence, she finds herself accused of violation of privacy and sentenced to prison. Her husband, tried on October 23, 2024, received 45 days in prison, a sentence considered derisory by many observers.
A symbol of the fight for women’s rights
The provisional release granted to Dieynaba Ndiaye is seen as a victory for feminist groups and human rights defenders. Since the start of this affair, demonstrations have been organized, demanding not only his release but also reforms to protect victims of domestic violence.
The Senegal Feminist Collective, which played a central role in the mobilization, welcomed this decision while calling for continued vigilance. “It’s just a step. We must continue our fight for justice that protects the victims and truly punishes the perpetrators,” we read in their press release published on social networks.
What next for Dieynaba Ndiaye?
Although this provisional release marks a respite for Dieynaba Ndiaye, the legal fight is not over. The court will have to rule definitively on his case in the coming weeks. In the meantime, his state of health, weakened by his 49 days of detention, remains a major concern.
